Saturday, February 9, 2013

It Varies

This is a mini-circular swatch with the stranded rib. Reason it appears twice is because I was testing 2 different needle sizes...

What I will say is that it is definitely less ugly knitted than in the skein. And I think the cashmere contrast yarn works very well.

Everyone says that Malabrigo is the softest yarn ever. I didn't believe it because, well, the yarn is not outrageously soft as you knit. I mean, it's soft, but not noteworthily so. Mind you, when you block it, something bizarre and alchemical occurs and it goes insanely, unbelievably soft. With NO halo (hallelujah) and excellent stitch definition. The yarn is also very manageable. No splitting or acting up.

Keep in mind, I don't care what they say, it isn't cashmere. But it's a very good approximation for a fraction of the cost. Plus, it's less fragile than cashmere.

A couple of other things:

The Indicum sweater may use fingering-weight yarn, but on a US size 5 needle. That's going to knit up about 5 times faster (as far as the swatching goes) than fingering yarn on a US size 1 or 2 needle. That works for me.

I'm not saying I like this yarn, just that it's growing on me and I can appreciate certain of its many properties.

Seriously, I've never done so much opinion-backtracking since I started knitting.

It does look nice - but I never think of reverse st. st. as an actual pattern... I really hope it works out well. The designer uses Malabrigo for her version. This is one of the only times I can say I've used the same brand of yarn as the designer.

Feel Free to Email Me At

Here am I...

But Enough About Me...

Form/Function. Line/Curve. Safe/Risk. Art/Craft. Body/Mind.
Fashion intersects these. It's how we express what is popular in what is personal. It's where intellect debates sex; where soft and hard duke it out. So much mystery underpins beautiful things. So much confidence rests upon them. Discuss.